Monday, November 22

What the ...

Not much going on and that is okay by me. I have my dish for Thanksgiving all figured out and ready to put together. It is a simple one and I will get the recipe in here after I make it and find out if it is worthy.

I made a couple of bracelets the last few days. It was fun getting back to it. One is sold already. That seems to be the way it goes. Someone sees it, likes it and off it goes! That makes it even more fun.

Yesterday Butch and I were invited to Rio Valley Estates by Bobby and Donna Gabbert and Donna's sister Mickey for  a Green Chillies Enchilada supper. It is one of Mickey's specialties. Absolutely scrumptious! It was followed by Donna's Flan Cake also scrumptious! Donna writes a blog for their park and I do believe the recipe for the flan cake was featured at one time. It sounded to me like it was a park favorite and rightly so.

It has been hot the last few days- not just hot but humid as well so we have the A/C running. I know it is hard to fathom the difference between here and up north. When people arrive here this time of year it takes them about a week to adjust. I am sure that if we suddenly traveled north we would be shivering for a week or more.
Till something interesting happens...

Saturday, November 20

Saturday Morning

George Morgan has been hard at it in Magnolia Park doing what needs to be done and putting a shiny new finish on many different areas of the park.

Butch and Milton are waiting patiently and from a distance for the mailman to finish. Our peeps(people) in the park have to be reminded every year that if they crowd the mailman or engage him in conversation that we will all have to go to the post office to pick up our mail. Huh uh! Don't want to do that!!

Check out www.magnolianews.blogspot.com for more pictures.

Jolene replys:

We had the reception last night and I won third place for the McNay Lily. So happy to get it. Jolene

Just thinking

I haven't had my camera out for over a week. That is almost unheard of and I cannot believe it has happened. So today I will take it with me. I cannot promise anything really earth shattering but if you tune in regularly you know I can always find something to take a shot at.(grin).

The weather since we arrived on Halloween has been  as near perfect as anyone can expect. Every day is sunny with daytime temps in the 70's and 80's and night time temps in the 50's and 60's. I am almost afraid to mention it. In past years November has been a bit too hot but this year we cannot ask for better. Wouldn't it be a special treat if this weather held out till April? Time will tell and I am not holding my breath. Whatever it may be ,it will be the best available in the good ol' USA.
We have not made a trip to Mexico yet. I have a list started with about 8 items on it,adding to it when I think of it. In past years we would zip down about every other week. I wouldn't take a list because we were sure we would be going again soon, so if not this time we will get it next time. Things are different this year. More so even than last year. Time... This too shall pass....Just not sure if it will be in our lifetime.
More later...

Thursday, November 18

Jolene Dozier Oyer's Photo entries

I know I have a few of my classmates who check in on the blog so when Jolene sent me her entries in the art show I decided to share with all of you. I think she does a great job. Here is what she has to say about her entries.
  
" I entered these photos in the holiday show and did get a call I won something but don't know until this Friday at the reception. They have the best show ,1st, 2nd ,and 3rd ,and couple honorable mentions for the entire show. This makes it harder to win anything in photography. I am happy to win anything. Will let you know the outcome. Jolene"
 





Tuesday, November 16

Loose ends

Sometimes a person has a day whereby you tie up many loose ends. I much prefer having one of those as opposed to having several days of them. Yesterday we went to the bank in McAllen to get disbursements for next year lined up-next on to Time Warner to stop our statements from going to Arkansas. Really a story not worth taking the time to write. Knowing Butch's brother Bill lives in Arkansas is all you need to know about how that happened. It should be cleared up now. We tried to check out a couple of bead stores in McAllen but never found them. Checked out one in Weslaco but they are overpriced so most likely will not buy there or recommend it. Then we went to a mobile home place to check out floor plans for transferring the ideas to our little cottage in Jefferson Iowa. Saw lots of neat ideas some of which may stick but not many.
This morning started in more loose ends as Butch informed me he was getting low on his thyroid meds. So we got that ordered. Our insurance representative emailed me insurance papers to sign for the Jefferson property so we signed, sealed, addressed, stamped and sent that loose end. This all before Coffee hour. Then we went to play golf. Butch shot a 30 and I enjoyed a nice walk. Yes, I played. I just don't think my score is worth a mention. My mind and slate has to be clean and clear before I can play good golf. It seldom is.
Waking in the morning with nothing on the agenda doesn't seem to happen nearly often enough. Retired? Really?

Sunday, November 14

More Videos from son Gary

Not near as much fun as Elise ones but Grandpa didn't get any new footage from our time with her Yesterday. Not that she doesn't always smile and do totally cute stuff, I was just too busy smiling too. She had a great time in her jumper squeeling and having fun.
Here are the cat videos from a 1999 VHS tape
Priss
Wiley
Angel

Pretty Christmas song

Amanda plays the flute for a Christmas song sang at our Church in 1999
 
 
 

Flu Shots

I could not remember if I had told you about our flu shots this year so I went to the search feature on this blog and did a search for flu shots and every time since 2002 that I mentioned flu shots came up. It was only four or five entries but that search feature is a good deal. I had not related the flu shot story of 2010. We had so much going on this fall that we forgot to get our flu shots in Jefferson before we headed south. Our next stop was Missouri and on one of our excursions to the WalMart in Harrisonville we noticed they were giving flu shots and on one of those occasions we had time and decided to get one. In doing so I thought what our deceased parents would have thought about getting a flu shot at the WalMart store. The times they are a changing!!

Saturday, November 13

Slogging

I am still slogging through the motorhome making decisions to sell, throw away or keep. I can only make so many decisions in one day before I cease to care if I keep or sell 22 Citronella tea lights. I am continuing to  work on the inside. We still plan to go through our 'basement'. Fortunately I do feel that I am making progress but some days I am ready to chuck the whole business because once we go through everything we still have to price each item, take it to the big hall on the first Friday of next month to get it ready to sell. And then endure the sale process. Some days I think that is a good thing and other days not so much.
We arrived here October 31st and this is our first cloudy day. After stringing all those sunny ones in a row we begin to take them for granted and waking to a cloudy one is a bit of a shock but we will get over it.
Now back to my sorting....

Friday, November 12

Friday-Computer Class and stuff

The first computer class was this morning with 5 students and one guest in attendance. My friend Mickey came over to class. Very fitting as Mickey was who gave me my start with computers way back in 1996. Seems like yesterday!! We all had a good time.
After class we took Mickey to Gonzales Burgers. An experience everyone needs at least once. There is no sign on the front of the building but nearly every Winter Texan knows where they are located on Silver Ave. in Donna.
Mickey and I shared our burger and it was plenty for both of us. Butch had to tackle his alone and he couldn't finish it. He gave it a noble try.
Butch kept his 2:30 appointment for his prior-to-surgery physical. Son Jason called while he was gone and inquired where his dad was and when I told him he said, "You let him go unsupervised?"  I told him I had sent him with a note as I had sent a list of medications and supplements he takes. It is actually a short list.
Contrary to popular opinion I do not micro-manage him all the time!! Smileycons!
When Butch returned home we were able to get our second walk of the day completed and had a nice visit with Pecan Bill and Kay before coming home and skipping supper. We were still digesting lunch!!
Still trying to get a handle on things and I will one day soon. I will let you know when it happens.

Wednesday, November 10

Sorting and Shedding

I am in the midst of a sorting process. Our home is small so space is at a premium and we humans being natural gatherers have to wean things down to a manageable level at least once a year. I have noticed that when I am surrounded by too many "things" I get irritable. So this sorting and throwing is easy for me. Not only easy but downright exhilarating as I get farther into the process. So the next week or two will continue the shedding of excess. If I haven't sought it out,worn or used it in the past year it will soon belong to someone else.

Tuesday, November 9

Tuesday

Very full day- Coffee hour started things off followed by golf. I went this week even though I wasn't thrilled about it. I feel about golf the same way I would feel about an ex-husband. It is something I used to be in love with but I am not anymore. So a visit to the scene of lost love holds very little appeal. I didn't play too badly considering how I feel about it. 44 for 9 holes. I think Butch shot a 36.
We weren't home too long after golf when we had to get to the Thurmond Eye Institute for Butch's consultation about his cataract removal. We are now all set up with all the appointments needed. By Christmas it should all be behind him with much improved vision. He is very much looking forward to having it done.
This summer in Michigan we went to an Arts and Crafts Fair where they had these Dish flowers on sale for $35. Well not these but ones like these. I decided they would be very easy to duplicate and indeed they are. We placed these at our neighbors place across the street. (Site #62) We can see them and enjoy them so much more with them over there. That and we couldn't agree on a good place for them on our side of the street.

There used to be a trailer blocking this view of our place but no longer. That is until these empty spots get rented.
 

Monday, November 8

NightHawk

Thanks to those of you who identified the bird as a nighthawk. I was sure someone would clue me in and you didn't disappoint. I have always thought of hawks as big birds so it didn't cross my mind that it could be a hawk. After seeing the picture sent by cousin Richard Jorgensen there was no doubt about it.

Sunday, November 7

5 more short youtube videos of Amanda and others

5 more short youtube videos of Amanda and others
 
Amanda talks big or little
 
Pee Wee Weird or Funny
 
Preschool Dress
 
Christmas Song
 
Amanda sings

On the left

On the left side of this page are several blogs of interest and I check them frequently. That is one of the reasons they are all listed there. It makes it very handy for me to check in on them. After reading through them this morning I am thinking what the heck am I doing writing this blog...BORING! Most of them are doing far more interesting stuff than I am. In my own defense we have been at this going on 9 years now. I am sure I have repeated myself many times over. And the ones who are doing the interesting stuff have not been at it nearly so long.... though they do write really good blog entries I must admit. I am waffling...  I could go back and recycle some of my entries when things in the Rio Grande Valley were new to us?
On to other things...
Butch has an appointment on Tuesday to consult with a doctor about getting cataracts removed. We are anxious for him to get this done. Those of you who have been through this know what we mean.
This bird has been sitting in this position in this tree for many days now. I do not know what kind of bird it is but it rarely leaves this spot.

 Oh and by the way Droopy is still with us. I think Droopy with his deformed/broken wing has been with us for two years now. He hops around the park and now and then struggles to fly to the tops of bushes or fences. Droopy is a mockingbird. Each fall we say, "Wow, Droopy is still with us!" And we are saying it again this fall.


Saturday, November 6

Butterscotch Punch

   Butterscotch Punch         
 Now that cool nights are here, a hot toddy is just the ticket when you’re sitting around a dying campfire under a starlit sky. This punch is a nice break from hot cider. It’s less acid
 for the bedtime tummy and you can make it with powdered milk,
 so  it stretches your fresh milk supply.
1 2/3 cups nonfat dry milk
5 cups water
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
½ cup water
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon vanilla or butternut flavoring
Pinch salt

 

  Stir dry milk into 5 cups water. Set aside. Stir brown sugar and the half cup water
over low heat to dissolve, gradually stirring in butter, flavoring and salt.  Reduce
heat, stir in  reconstituted milk and heat to steaming. Serve in mugs.

Video snippets from son Gary

Keep in mind the little girl, Amanda, in these videos is the mama of Elise that has been featured on this blog.
Amanda was 5 at the time.

From Gary:

I now have a total of 28 videos on Youtube. I don't think I have even scratched the surface of all the old stuff. These are still from the Amanda being 5 VHS tape.
 
Grandma Marion and Fern visited the lake
 
Birthday candles
 
Jewelry comment on Bday photo


 

Friday, November 5

A Whole Lot Happening

Butch's brother Bill called him yesterday and asked him to put  a For Sale sign on their place here in Magnolia Park. Our friends  Donn and Peggy had stayed in Bill & Jo's place last March for a couple of weeks last spring. We had notified them that Bill and Jo were planning to sell. So long story shortened they have made an offer that has been accepted. It will be very different without Bill and Jo across the street but it will also be fun to have our old friends Donn and Peggy so near.
My lifelong friend Mickey is here too having arrived the same day we did. I say here but she is actually staying in her sister Donna's RV in Rio Valley Estates, a park that is only a mile and two tenths from our park. We have been dropping in on her now and then. Tonight we went to the El Dorado in Alamo TX. It is Butch's favorite Mexican restaurant in the Rio Grande Valley. This was just one of many times we will be there throughout the winter season.
The trailer next to us on the south has been sold and will be leaving most likely tomorrow. They worked diligently for most of the day getting it ready to move out. It will really change the look and feel of where we are. There will be nothing between us and our friends Pecan Bill and Kay way down on the corner! We may miss the protection we gained from having the trailer there during a strong south wind. We will also have more of the south sun.
Sometimes change is barely noticeable and other times there seems to be a big bunch of it. Either way it is always there. I have been one of the lucky ones because change has always seemed to be a blessing to me.

Thursday, November 4

Walking through Water

You know that feeling of being waste deep in water and trying to walk really fast?...well that is sometimes how I feel. We decided to go to McAllen to the Time Warner place to get roadrunner. I then put my Verizon on vacation and  Butch and I share a high speed internet connection. The rest of what I do is most likely something someone could get their undies in a bunch about so I won't tell it here. Let's just say my neighbors are happy that I have roadrunner. The process of doing this took a very long time. I think I had a new guy. Art was his name and he kept having to go to the back room to ask questions. After we finally concluded our business we kept my hair appointment and I was early and Yolanda wasn't so it seemed as though it took a very long time but in the scheme of things I am sure it wasn't. Yolanda was telling me about the volatility of the Mexican situation all summer. She thinks it is getting worse. She told me she would like to cross the border to get her teeth cleaned because it is so much cheaper but simply does not feel it is safe to do so. And this is from a girl who has went back and forth across the border all her life. I did kind of veg out this afternoon.  Butch played cribbage. I went on one of my two walks today. Sort of a so-so day all around. The weather is moderate 70's/80's. Been a bit windy the last couple days but it wouldn't be south Texas if the wind didn't blow.

Wednesday, November 3

Some Done

I have 2,4,6 and 8 completed. BUT I forgot to put
14. laundry
15. Balance Checkbook
on the list. So now we can mark off 14 and 15 too. I have hopes I can get back to the fun stuff soon. It is probably not nearly as bad as I can make it sound.;-)

We had a cold front go through yesterday. I know, don't laugh. It went from 92 down to 72. But this morning I woke up and decided to do some computer work. The longer I sat here the colder I got! So finally I went back to bed and warmed up. When I did get up it was a very pleasant day.
Butch golfed yesterday. The usual thing for a Tuesday in Texas. I passed- too much to do. He golfed well -34, there were two other fellows who golfed too. 3 is a start.  The group will grow as more journey south for the winter.
I will be wordier on another day!!